Birthdays

I worked on my birthday this year but let me tell you it was way better then last year. Last year I was sick from jet lag. What a difference a year makes.

The boys spoiled me rotten and were super cute about it. We went to our friends house for a great dinner. We are so blessed!!


Thank you for the birthday wishes. I love you all.

second summer

We got back from the states and had visions of traveling around China. Well when we asked the boys what they wanted to do they said they wanted to stay and play with their friend and have another vacation here at our condo. So that is what we did. It was great just to reconnect with friends and get our bodies back on China time.


Feeding the Zebra's

our friend Ed :)

We went to the Dalian Zoo one day with the Emery's. That was a lot of fun and REALLY hot. The zoo was different then we are use to but we all had so much fun. We know we are so spoiled with the Seattle and Portland zoo's. Check out some of the pictures. You could get really close to the animals. At times I asked Doug what was keeping the animals from getting us and he smiled and said good question. :)



Another day on our stay home vacation we went to an indoor water park. It was packed but the boys had a great time. I even got to swim laps. I miss that.

Doug and I also worked on setting up our classrooms and helping the new teachers shop. It was nice to get an early start and not feel so far behind.

How many jobs will we need to feed our children?

Last night Doug and I made homemade ravioli with ricotta cheese and spinach in them. I made the ricotta cheese from scratch and we filled won ton wrappers with the mixture. At dinner Matthew ate his first plate and kindly asked us if we were planning on having more. We asked why and he said that they were so good that he wanted to eat them all. So he and Isaac fought over the rest of the bowl. 4 helpings later they were satisfied. Hmmm we thought they would not like them. We were WRONG. I guess it is a great weight loss program. Let the boys eat then I will eat the little that is left. The sad thing is they are only 6 and 7. Can't imagine when they are 14 and 15. WOW

what a difference a year makes

Coming back to China has been such an easy adjustment compared to last year at this time. It has been wonderful to get a chance to relax and hang out with friends. Last year at this time we were so overwhelmed it was bad news. We thought when we got back to China we would do a bit a traveling. When we asked the boys they just wanted to hang out and play. It has been great. We are unpacked, rested, classrooms are getting ready, shopping is done. What a difference a year makes. We look forward to what God has planned for us this year. Here is to another year of adventures.

Home

great friends

O grandma and her great grandchildren (Happy 95th)



Daddy sleeping on the beach.


Check out that single scoop of ice cream


We arrived home on Father's day and we have been going ever since. Isaac said to me the other day that we were going to need to go on a vacation from our vacation. We are so blessed to have the amazing families and friends we have. It has been such a great time. Where do you start?? the people, the food, the adventures, the laughs and tears. WOW. It went by so fast. We were on the go most of the time but it was worth every minute. Enjoy the pictures.

Dragon Boat Festival

On Wednesday the Chinese celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival. We were invited to our taxi driver's (Jack) house for dinner. There were 4 other couples/families invited as well. We felt honored to be included. Jack picked us up and we went to his apartment. It was a great night. We ate seafood, chicken wings (Isaac and Matthew's favorite) and other yummy dishes. It was great to meet his family and extended family and to be in a Chinese home. Jack has a son that is in 5th grade so that was fun to see him and talk to him. The boys liked kicking the soccer ball with him. We all had a great time and wow the food was yummy. It was such a pleasure and privilege to be invited.

Where has the time gone??

We can hardly believe that school is almost out for us. It feels like yesterday that we said goodbye to our families and friends to come to China. Now is just 1 week we will be back with them for a month. We are so excited we can hardly stand it.

Living in an ex-pat community has been amazing. We have learned so much from so many people. The sad part is families leave to go back home at different times. As the school year ends we say good bye to an amazing year of teaching and learning and also some great friends we have met along the journey. We know that we are here for a reason and they have been placed in our lives. They all hold a special place in our hearts. It is hard to say good bye but we know it will not be forever.

We look forward to more adventures..... (pictures to come)